Hi my mum has a 5 yr shnauzer female,who is being really naughty at night,she settles for an hour then gives out a couple of barks,she wont lie back down,she seems to be really unsettled,so my mum has to get up let her out of her crate and take her down stairs as not to wake the nieghbours.As soon as she goes down she settles on the sofa,ive adviced mum not to let her up there atall not even during the day anymore.So why after all these yrs of being contented in her crate has she started this?thanks everyone Julia xx

Hello Julia :-)  has the dog started this behaviour recently? It is probably hotter upstairs than down so with the warmer weather she may be too hot. I don't quite understand your post, why does she have to sleep upstairs in a crate?  Were is her bed and why can't she sleep downstairs? does she have access to water upstairs? I would put her in a bed/crate with door open downstairs :-D

Hi Reddor,she started this roughly about a week ago,she has fresh water put in with her at nite.With cotton blankets instead of the fleece in the hotter weather.Julia

..sorry Julia :-) I don't understand why she has to be upstairs in a crate at her age? If she is happy downstairs what is the problem? I understand you may not want her to sleep on the sofa but why not in bed or on the sofa on a blanket :-)

why should a dog be aloud to sleep on a sofa?Shes always slept upstairs in a crate frm when my mum got her,anyway so why would she change now?thats all i asked nothing more,shes getting her own way isnt she by going down stairs and sleeping on the sofa.So why should my mum start this now?Ive never owned a dominant dog myself but we all bring our dogs up so very different.Julia

..your dog has decided she does not want to sleep upstairs, if she has done this for six years without a problem there must be a reason why she will not do it now and I would  guess she is hot! If you have a problem with the neighbours and your dog prefers to sleep quietly downstairs surely that is good :-) I would put her downstairs with her bed and if you don't want her on the sofa put her in another room.

Ive told my mum wots been suggested,im sure she will give it ago tonite,ive also told her to let the nieghbours know just in case.Shes a domanante dog anyway she always has been,so mum knows she really has to sort the problem out fast but some people are stronger than others.Some people care what thier nieghbours think but sometimes youve got to think of yourself before others wouldnt you agree?Julia

julia :-) hope all is quiet and mum and dog have a peaceful night :-D

I really wouldn't get too worried about the dominant dog idea.

Dogs can be pushy and strong minded but i aliken this more to pushy teenagers and we don't call them dominant :D I understand why people use the term but feel it is so often misused and leads to a breakdown in communication and a battle of wills which is so sad.

www.dog-dominance.co.uk is a good site to check out which you and your mum may find useful :)

As has been said, if a dog suddenly changes its behaviour, there is a reason - and it is up to us to work out what that reason is. A sudden change in behaviour in some cases can be due to an undiagnosed medical problem..

Hope all goes well and your mum manages to sort things out :)

Lindsay
X

Well as adviced my mum slept the dog downstairs,in the kitchen with the crate door open,she settled straight away,but got dad up at 4:30 am,just for 5 mins.Then again at 9:am mum and dad very impressed.Thanx everyone Julia

thats great.. I expect she was hot :-)